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Future of Genz Benz?

#21
spectorboy75 said:
I didn't let it stop me. Bought the shuttle 6.2 combo and the extension cab. Love it.
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Same here - I'm rockin' a Streamliner 900 and a ShuttleMax 12.0, and have nothing but great things to say about them both... I had a minor fan issue with the Max 12.0 last week, PM'd Andy about it, and he helped me out - within an hour or so...

I play Mesa and Genz Benz because they make great gear, and stand behind it...


- georgestrings
 
#24
Fender wants Jeff to focus on top of the line Fender amplification without interfering with SWR market. Or suddle tweaks to "Genz Benz" components with the Fender logo. Shhhh....

I know www.thebassplace.com (Peoria, AZ) still has new 9.2's available (a lot of them) but call them, as they might not be listed on their website.

Ask for Dennis or Lee and tell them Mike referred you ;)
 
#25
jeffbonny said:
So thanks a whole big bunch to the marketing geniuses at Fender for buying and killing yet another good company. I'm 53, have a great paying day job and can afford all the gear that I couldn't when I was a full time musician. I'm the typical guy who keeps companies like you in business and I'm pretty sure that unless it's at your going out of business sale for 10 cents on the dollar I'll never buy another new Fender product.
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That's a bit unfair, don't you think? They released some Sunn gear under the Fender nameplate and, by most accounts, it was great stuff. Let's wait and see what happens to Fender gear once Jeff and Andy work their magic on it.

This gets me thinking - did the GB boys have anything to do with the new Fender Pro 100T/300 series? The new Neo cabs? Those are great pieces of kit...
 
#26
Random thoughts regarding this thread:

  • Any company can go out of business at any time.
  • Any company can stop production to sell excess inventory.
  • Any company can stop production for slow-selling or unprofitable items.
  • Any company can purchase another for its technology.
  • Any company can purchase another for its market share.
  • Any company can purchase another for its competition in market share.
  • Any bass player in the U.S. can find practically any gear they want, new or used, with a bit of persistence.
  • That a manufacturing company may no longer be in business does not diminish the product that they already made.
  • Certain manufactured items that may be discontinued are still found for sale online, at normal or reduced prices.
  • Speculation on Talkbass is like water, composing 70% of the surface.
  • Like water, conjecture slides through our fingers, despite our grasp.

I purchased a very nice SM 9.2 in the midst of earlier doom and gloom "sky is falling" threads. I have used it daily since without problem. Once, when I had a question, I PM'd agedhorse and received his reply the same day.

Our community is quite fortunate to have the products and customer service dedication of Genz Benz, regardless of whatever its formal, or informal speculative status is.
 
#27
George Mann said:
Is it the difference in size and/or power alone that makes you choose the Shuttle as an upgrade?

Are you aware of the Hartke LH1000?
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Its both. I played a Hartke KILO the other day, and I think I've played a LH1000 as well. Both are solid amps, but I am considering moving toward a smaller/lighter amp with more power than my 3500. I actually love my 3500, and will probably upgrade my cab before I jump in on a new head.

I've just been looking to upgrade and have needed a way to narrow my choices down. If this latest "panic" isn't a huge concern (my main concern is maintenance if I buy one used and try to use it for the next 5-10 years) then I'll keep my options open to a GB Shuttle or SM 9.2.
 
#29
jeffbonny said:
This is the kind of Fender dealer that has two or three $30K+ custom shop strats in stock.
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waynes-world-fender-stratocaster-ex.jpg
 
#30
It's a shame if this is true. The Streamliner 900/Über 2x12 has been the absolute most perfect back up rig for a tube amp user. If anything ever went wrong at a gig (and with tubes it happens at the most inconvenient times) I always had/have my Streamliner 900 in my backpack. One of the best pieces of music gear I have ever purchased.
 
#31
Hey, I have a REAL TalkBass problem with Genz Benz gear!!

I have a SL-900 into an Accugroove Tri-115... I have been working really hard on building up my GAS for a new rig and have been unable to do so!

AM I GOING TO BE BANNED FROM TALKBASS?

Dan K.
 
#34
backin82 said:
Does this mean I should avoid picking up a Shuttle 9.0? I was looking to upgrade my Hartke 3500 with one of these. Between this and the Markbass customer service issues....where do I turn for a quality amp for a good price?
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I have a Shuttle 6.0 and if I had a shot at another Genz Benz amp I liked, I'd grab it and run like a bandit!! Whether they come back into production or not, grab one while you can.
 
#35
You know, I have to throw my hat in the ring here. I'm just about TIRED of all the Fender flaming over companies that they buy and then either absorb into Fender or do away with altogether. One thing you guys need to keep in mind is that Fender can't BUY if nobody is SELLING. "Jeff" (I am assuming that is the owner/originator of GB) had to SELL the dang company for somebody to BUY it. So if he is so AMAZING when it comes to being all about his customers, why did he sell to the "evil corporate giant machine" that you people claim Fender is?

BTW, I don't blame the guy. If Fender came to me and said, "Hey. I'll buy your company for a metric ton of hundred dollar bills AND you can come work for us for a pretty good paycheck too" I would tell any customer of mine who didn't like it that they could eat poo. I gotta do what's best for me and mine.

The point is, you guys act as though Fender is some sort of "bass guy" here. They are just doing business AS ARE THE GUYS AT GB. BOTH sides are/were trying to make a dollar. Jeff is looking out for Jeff (as he should).

A little off topic, but if Hamer and Tacoma (or any of the other instruments you guys are always pissing and moaning about not being available any more) had SOLD well enough they would still be in production. Period. Fender would not have shut those companies down if their products had enough market share to keep them around. To a certain extent, either that is the case with GB, or the guys who owned GB got offered big dough and they TOOK IT. So, if there is a "bad guy" (and I don't believe there is) then is it your buddy Jeff. He sold you out if anyone did. (And, again, I don't think anyone did.)

Sorry. Had to get that off my chest. There are TWO sides of the GB/Fender bargain. BOTH had to agree to the deal.
 
#36
It looks like Fender is in the process of acquiring Genz Benz, and are presently trying to purchase their intellectual property. That would explain the location change of two GB staff, and why GB stock is so low despite the company still being "in business". My guess is that Fender want to improve on those class-D amps they made awhile ago, and plan to use the GB to achieve that.

If Fender bought GB now, all the unsold GB stock would become a financial liability to Fender, so they're probably waiting for it to clear before they make the acquisition. In the mean time, they'll be transferring design staff across to Fender so they can get a new amp ready for release, once the final Genz Benz stock goes. If the stock doesn't sell quickly enough, they may just take the hit.

Of course, that's just a guess...
 
#38
two fingers said:
You know, I have to throw my hat in the ring here. I'm just about TIRED of all the Fender flaming over companies that they buy and then either absorb into Fender or do away with altogether. One thing you guys need to keep in mind is that Fender can't BUY if nobody is SELLING. "Jeff" (I am assuming that is the owner/originator of GB) had to SELL the dang company for somebody to BUY it. So if he is so AMAZING when it comes to being all about his customers, why did he sell to the "evil corporate giant machine" that you people claim Fender is?

BTW, I don't blame the guy. If Fender came to me and said, "Hey. I'll buy your company for a metric ton of hundred dollar bills AND you can come work for us for a pretty good paycheck too" I would tell any customer of mine who didn't like it that they could eat poo. I gotta do what's best for me and mine.

The point is, you guys act as though Fender is some sort of "bass guy" here. They are just doing business AS ARE THE GUYS AT GB. BOTH sides are/were trying to make a dollar. Jeff is looking out for Jeff (as he should).

A little off topic, but if Hamer and Tacoma (or any of the other instruments you guys are always pissing and moaning about not being available any more) had SOLD well enough they would still be in production. Period. Fender would not have shut those companies down if their products had enough market share to keep them around. To a certain extent, either that is the case with GB, or the guys who owned GB got offered big dough and they TOOK IT. So, if there is a "bad guy" (and I don't believe there is) then is it your buddy Jeff. He sold you out if anyone did. (And, again, I don't think anyone did.)

Sorry. Had to get that off my chest. There are TWO sides of the GB/Fender bargain. BOTH had to agree to the deal.
Click to expand...

There is wisdom in here folks ^^ read it again.

Yes, in order for someone to buy, someone has to sell. Integrity is great an all but if I'm pushing 60 and someone gives me a price that says I can enjoy the rest of my life and still work with stuff I like...I would consider myself a dumbass if I said no.
 
#39
The other thing to consider is that if GB stuff is incorporated into the Fender line and retains basically the same hardware/design, what's the difference? If my Streamliner 900 had a Fender logo instead of GB but sounded the same, I still would have bought it.
 
#40
Thrillhouse said:
The other thing to consider is that if GB stuff is incorporated into the Fender line and retains basically the same hardware/design, what's the difference? If my Streamliner 900 had a Fender logo instead of GB but sounded the same, I still would have bought it.
Click to expand...

As you should.

I think the fear is big corporate bean counting cost cutters coming in and screwing up a good thing in order to cut a fraction of a pennies cost here or gain a fraction of a percents margin there....it's a legitimate concern that has in the past shown to take something of truly great quality and whittle it down to just a brand name and a marketing strategy......with no badass product to back it up.

It happens all the time, and has ultimately failed every time, but not before a bunch of couldn't-care-less, short-sighted investors get fat bankrolls first.


Wouldn't be the first time, or the last. What's sad is people are too dunce to even see it coming, line the pockets of said investors first, then complain.

It's like loan sharks....same thing.
 

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